Some Easter Facts You May Have Missed

By Johann Erickson

The Eastern season is both an important religious celebration and a time of family fun. Whether your celebration is centered around the altar or around the Easter basket, here are some facts about the holiday you may have missed.

The tradition of eggs at Easter time dates back to the early days of the church. During the middle ages, egg throwing festivals were often held in churches. During these festivals, the priest would throw a hard boiled egg to one of the assembled choir boys. The egg was then tossed from one choir boy to the next. The boy holding the egg when the clock struck noon was the winner and got to keep the egg.
When the first Easter baskets came on the scene they were often designed to replicate bird nests.
The time honored art of painting eggs for the Easter season is known as Pysanka.
The Easter season is a movable holiday since it is dependent on the phases of the moon.
The Easter bonnet came about as a way for ladies to show off their finest clothes. It was tradition for believers to deny themselves fine garments during the Lenten period.
The history of the egg as a symbol of renewal goes back farther than Easter itself. The ancient Egyptians held the egg as a token of renewal and rebirth.
The egg has been used as a symbol of resurrection since the earliest days of the Christian church.
The custom of giving eggs as presents at Easter has been found in Egyptian, Persian, Greek and Roman culture. Many cultures throughout history have celebrated the egg as a symbol of life, so the connection with the Easter celebration is obvious.
The date of Easter always falls on the first Sunday after the full moon that occurs on or after March 21, which is the first day of Spring.
It is traditional for many Christians to use evergreens, which are symbols of everlasting life. In addition, many other celebrants display flowers in the traditional spring colors of yellow, green and white as the Easter season approaches.
There is a longstanding tradition of churchgoers wearing at least one new item of clothing to Easter services. Doing so is considered good luck.
Children around the country descend on the White House lawn for the annual Easter egg roll, and many presidents have made personal appearances to the happy children.

Source: Johann Erickson, OnlineDiscountMart.com